La prima notte di quiete

Art historian Daniele (Alain Delon) drifts aimlessly through life, devoid of purpose or interest. With little motivation, he takes over for a sick colleague at a high school in wintry Rimini. His encounter with the fascinating, enigmatic 19-year-old student Vanina (Sonia Petrovna) revitalizes him. But neither Daniele nor Vanina is free: he is bound to the possessive Monica (Lea Massari) in a loveless marriage, while she is entangled in a relationship with a wealthy playboy. This melancholy film, marked by a brooding, unshaven, chain-smoking Alain Delon and the expressive presence of Sonia Petrovna, was only released in German and French theaters in a version shortened by half an hour. The film was restored in 2019, but only re-released in France.